Sunrise Wind Invests $300,000 to Train Capital Region Workers for Union Construction Careers in Clean Energy
Funding for Multi-Craft Apprenticeship Preparation Program will create a more inclusive workforce and provide opportunities for workers to develop skills needed for well-paying union construction jobs.
Albany, N.Y. – August 10, 2022 – Today, alongside New York Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado and state economic and labor leaders, Sunrise Wind announced it will commit $300,000 to recruit and train workers in Albany’s South End neighborhood for union construction careers critical to the clean energy transition. The program represents a strategic partnership with the Center for Economic Growth. Sunrise Wind is a joint venture offshore wind project between Ørsted, the leading U.S. offshore wind energy partner, and Eversource, New England’s largest energy provider and experts in regional energy transmission. Today’s announcement demonstrates Ørsted and Eversource’s commitment to supporting job creation in disadvantaged communities, a key tenant of the New York State’s nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
The funding comes from the $1 million Upper Hudson Workforce Development Fund created by the Sunrise Wind project and will be used to fund the Multi-Craft Apprenticeship Preparation Program (M.A.P.P.), a pre-apprenticeship program that recruits and trains workers for unionized construction apprenticeships. M.A.P.P. aims to recruit low-income and workers of color from the Capital Region, providing a path to family-sustaining careers while bringing more diversity to the building trades. The new funding will cover pay, training and emergency financial needs for program participants, who will enroll over the course of 2022 and 2023. With this support, 15-20 participants will enroll in 2022 and another 15-20 in 2023.
In close partnership with the Greater Capital Region Building & Construction Trades Council, M.A.P.P. offers qualified, interested candidates an opportunity to gain training and experience that will enable them to successfully navigate a union construction apprenticeship program. This program offers structured work- and classroom-based learning that can propel apprentices into long, stable careers with family-sustaining wages and benefits. M.A.P.P. was founded in Rochester, NY and recently began operations in Albany’s South End neighborhood.
“The M.A.P.P. apprenticeship program will provide new opportunities for underserved New Yorkers to not only access good-paying union jobs, but also to make a difference in their environment,” said Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado. “Offshore wind is powering our future, helping us reach our clean energy goals, and providing stable careers for those who have been underrepresented in the workforce.”
“Today’s announcement is a critical milestone in developing our growing New York State offshore wind workforce and another key step in ensuring that building our green economy means delivering benefits to communities that have been historically left behind, said Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, NYSERDA. ”This investment in the Capital Region is another invaluable contribution from Ørsted and Eversource and will help to build a pipeline of talent for the family-sustaining jobs that will allow our clean energy economy to thrive.“
“I’ve often spoken of the incredible opportunities in job development and economic growth presented by investing boldly in offshore wind,” Congressman Paul Tonko said. “Today’s exciting announcement will have significant, lasting benefits for our Capital Region communities by creating pathways to good-paying jobs for workers from historically disadvantaged communities and driving forward our transition to clean energy. My gratitude to Ørsted, Eversource, CEG, and all those involved in this project. I remain committed to fighting in Congress for federal policies that will ensure that offshore wind plays a central role in our nation’s cleaner and more equitable economy of the future.”
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, “This is a long-awaited and exciting opportunity that will provide job training and sustainable unionized employment opportunities to low-income residents and people of color from Albany’s South End neighborhood. I want to thank Governor Hochul, Lieutenant Governor Delgado, the Greater Capital Region Building and Construction Trades Council, Ørsted, Sunrise Wind, Eversource, the Center for Economic Growth, and M.A.P.P. for collaborating on this project that simultaneously creates new jobs, highlights New York’s continued leadership in clean energy, and stimulates economic development. The City of Albany, through our Albany Community Development Agency, is proud to have recently provided more than $300,000 to M.A.P.P. to purchase their building and help create a model for how a private and public partnership can provide job training and creation for residents of historically underserved neighborhoods, and this additional investment by Sunrise Wind makes it clear we are well on our way to achieving that goal.”
“As New York State transitions to more clean and renewable technologies to meet our energy needs it is critical that we also make sure we have a workforce that is trained to help us meet those goals. I applaud The Center for Economic Growth (CEG) and Sunrise Wind for helping to bring the Multi-Craft Apprenticeship Preparation Program (M.A.P.P.) here to the South End of Albany,” said New York State Senator Neil Breslin.
“I’m proud to see the Multicraft Apprenticeship Preparation Program (MAPP) receive a $300,000 investment from Sunrise Wind, New York State’s partner in building our offshore wind and renewable energy-powered future,” said Assemblymember Patricia Fahy. “New York’s energy future is clean and renewable thanks to our nation-leading climate mandates set forth under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), but it will be built with the same skilled, union labor, that built our state and nation in years past. The MAPP program is charting that course for the Capital Region, connecting applicants with training, apprenticeship, and more to ensure that our clean energy transition starts right here at home with good-paying, local jobs.”
Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, RPh said “It is great to see this investment by Ørsted to the Multi-Craft Apprenticeship Preparation Program to recruit and train more workers in Albany’s South End neighborhood for union construction careers critical to the clean energy transition. By helping to develop apprenticeship opportunities, we are enabling careers in good-paying jobs, with strong career advancement opportunities that promote diversity in the workforce. I believe that investing in people is one of the best investments that you can make. Every time I visit MAPP I am reminded of how impactful this program is and will continue to be with the support of so many in our community and I am happy to be a long time supporter of it.”
“With the historic offshore wind manufacturing projects at the Ports of Coeymans and Albany, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make the largest impact possible for our local residents. That means connecting more of those individuals from the Sound End – who have been disproportionately affected by the carbon emissions we’re moving away from – with this pre-apprenticeship program that sets them on well-paying career paths,” said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy. “Albany County is quickly becoming a national leader in the renewable energy sector, and this innovative partnership between New York State, labor unions, Orsted and M.A.P.P. will ensure that we have the top-notch workforce needed to support these growing industries well into the future.”
“Albany County is positioning itself to be the next nationwide hub for renewable, clean energy technology development. The prospect of this infrastructure being produced by skilled union labor, and young people from Albany’s South End, is an exciting one,” said Albany County Legislature Chairman Andrew Joyce. “ The Greater Capital Region Building and Construction Trades Council and the Multi-Craft Apprenticeship Preparation Program (MAPP) are doing incredible work in making this become a reality. The Albany County Legislature congratulates them on continuing this important effort, and we thank the Center of Economic Growth and Sunrise Wind for this critical investment in Albany County’s union-built, clean energy future.”
“Ørsted is investing in a domestic supply chain and workforce development to accelerate the offshore wind industry in the United States,” said Jennifer Garvey, Head of New York Market Strategy at Ørsted. “Sunrise Wind will create hundreds of opportunities for union tradespeople in New York, and we’re proud to partner with organizations like CEG, M.A.P.P. and the Greater Capital Region Building & Construction Trades Council to ensure that more workers have access to the training and career pathways needed to contribute to this new clean energy industry while earning a living wage.”
“Ensuring that our region’s workers are able to benefit from the well-paying, union jobs that Sunrise Wind will create is a critical part of our mission,” said Andrea Bonilla, Senior Outreach Specialist for Offshore Wind at Eversource Energy. “We are thrilled to announce that as part of that effort, we will provide hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the recruitment and training of more union construction workers in New York’s Capital Region. These workers will play a pivotal role in the transition to a new, clean energy economy as we continue to deliver on our promise to expand economic opportunity throughout the state.”
“Offshore wind is creating a new industry in the Capital Region. Ørsted and Eversource are playing a major role not only in launching this industry here, but also, through their funding for the Multi-Craft Apprenticeship Preparation Program, they are creating a more inclusive and skilled workforce,” said Katie Newcombe, Chief Executive Officer of Center for Economic Growth. “CEG is proud to partner with Ørsted and Eversource in administering the funding for the Upper Hudson Workforce Fund and its first award to M.A.P.P..”
“On behalf of the Greater Capital Region Building and Construction Trades Council and our over 20,000 member family, it is truly an honor to partner with such groundbreaking, forward-thinking, organizations such as Orsted and M.A.P.P.,” said Michael Lyons, President of the Greater Capital Region Building and Construction Trades Council. “There has never been a moment in time in history where the Building Trades have had such an incredible opportunity to not only be an advocate for the transition to renewable energy, but simultaneously, expand our ranks by working with our community partners to lead the charge on DEI initiatives. This partnership will be nothing short of transformative for members of our community that have for too long been left behind. Our collective vision and hard work will ensure a direct pathway to a permanent home for so many families in the middle class.”
“Our training works because of partners like Ørsted and Eversource. These funds will ensure that aspiring construction workers in the Capital Region can provide for themselves and their families while they prepare to join union apprenticeship programs,” said Kereem Berry, Executive Director of M.A.P.P., Inc. “And at the same time, their prioritizing disadvantaged communities in the construction of wind turbine components will give M. A. P. P. participants strong footholds from which to launch long careers in the union construction industry.”
After being accepted to the program, participants will first work in paid positions under skilled supervision to rehabilitate homes and other community sites to develop their trade skills before enrolling in M.A.P.P. for additional skilled classroom-based education. After graduating, participants are offered “direct entry,” a New York State Department of Labor facilitated pathway to sought-after union apprenticeship programs.
Sunrise Wind will require hundreds of skilled workers to build and install the project, including the construction of advanced foundation components and other work at the Port of Coeymans. The project will enter negotiations with New York State contractors and trade labor organizations on a Project Labor Agreement to cover construction activities for Sunrise Wind and is committed to paying prevailing wages
The announcement is one of many commitments already being recognized for New York workers and businesses as part of the Sunrise Wind project. Last year, Ørsted and Eversource signed an $86 million supply chain contract with Riggs Distler & Company, Inc. to construct advanced foundation components for wind turbines at the Port of Coeymans, and the project will offer business development and employment opportunities from Western New York to the East End of Long Island.
Sunrise Wind will be one of the largest U.S. offshore wind farms and located more than 30 miles east of Montauk Point, interconnecting to the grid in Brookhaven, NY. The 924-megawatt project will generate enough clean energy to power nearly 600,000 New York homes and is expected to be operational in 2025.
ABOUT ØRSTED OFFSHORE NORTH AMERICA
The Ørsted vision is a world that runs entirely on green energy. Four years in a row, Ørsted earned recognition as the world’s most sustainable energy company by Corporate Knights, including for 2022. The company is a global clean energy leader and has the largest portfolio of offshore wind energy in the world.
In the United States, Ørsted operates the Block Island Wind Farm, America’s first offshore wind farm, and constructed the two-turbine Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind pilot project – the first turbines to be installed in federal waters. Ørsted has approximately 5,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy in development in five states and across six projects. Ørsted Offshore’s North American business is jointly headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island and employs approximately 250 people. To learn more visit us.orsted.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@OrstedUS).
ABOUT EVERSOURCE
Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, is the #1 energy company in Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies for 2021 and recognized as one of America’s Most JUST Companies. Eversource transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas and supplies water to approximately 4.4 million customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, Eversource harnesses the commitment of approximately 9,200 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles, and battery storage into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com.
About CEG
The Center for Economic Growth (CEG) is dedicated to driving economic growth in New York’s eight-county, 1.1-million-person Capital Region. As the nonprofit regional economic development organization, we do this by attracting investment and talent; growing manufacturing and workforce capabilities, leveraging industry clusters, and developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem. We serve as a catalyst and work with partners and stakeholders to prepare the region to compete and move high-impact strategies and projects forward. An affiliate of the Capital Region Chamber, CEG is supported by investors in business, government, education, and the nonprofit sectors who are committed to sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity. For more information on CEG, visit www.ceg.org.
About M.A.P.P.
The Multi-Craft Apprenticeship Preparation Program (M.A.P.P., Inc.) is a New York State not-for-profit organization operating in both Rochester and Albany, NY. We are a Direct-Entry gateway into a career-track opportunity in the union construction industry. M.A.P.P., Inc. serves as the Capital Region’s flagship Apprenticeship Readiness Program, providing training in through real-world job-site experience, education and basic skills required to successfully become construction apprentices. M.A.P.P works in support of historically under-served populations — particularly African American men and women.
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